Coyotes took ALL MY HENS!

[chick-in-florida]

so very sorry for your loss. a lot of us get very attached to our chickens, believe me. I hope you don't give up and let the coyotes win. nasty creatures. fortify the fences and start anew.

 

[redsoxs]

Sorry as well to hear about your coyote problem. I hope you get another flock going and find a way to keep those chicken thieves at bay! Best of luck to you!

 

[chickenboy2001]

I use a radio set to a talk station, and have never had an attack by a predator.

 

[Conchis]

I'm really sorry to hear about this. Predation is such a terrible thing. My chickens live with a livestock guardian dog He doesn't herd, has virtually no chase instinct, but becomes extremely aggressive if anything threatens my birds. Maybe some arrangement like this would work for you.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I believe you. We once lost 65 fully-feathered pullets in one night to a pack of coyotes. Not one of the babies was ever seen again. You could tell that the coyotes were feeding young, and the whole pack was carrying birds back and forth to some den all night by the tracks.

We found that the pullets didn't want to go up into the top of the tractor at night and were sleeping on the ground--inside wire, but with an open bottom that the coyotes dug under. We had to stop using our chicken tractor for young stock and built what we call the Chicken Hut--well off the ground so that they are safer. We have to go put them in every night if they try to sleep on the ground. Here's what we ended up with. It's also inside a woven-wire pasture with 4" openings. Not coyote proof, but a deterrent.

 

[Mehjr10]

Sorry for your loss. You may have to build your new flock a place that they can be securely locked up at night.. Auto door or manual door that is closed and tight walls to keep all the predators out. We have to deal with stray dogs, coyotes and Raccoons so none of mine will stay out over night. Good luck on your next group.

 

[applegal]

So sorry for your loss. It is incredibly frustrating to lose animals to predators. I hope you will try again!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Sorry for your loss. You may have to build your new flock a place that they can be securely locked up at night.. Auto door or manual door that is closed and tight walls to keep all the predators out. We have to deal with stray dogs, coyotes and Raccoons so none of mine will stay out over night. Good luck on your next group.

That's why we built the chicken hut. We used to keep our young stock in a big chicken tractor, but it wasn't tough enough or up off the ground enough to protect them from the coyotes even when the birds were locked in. Our big hen house is stick-built like a house, with a real floor and insulated walls. We have had raccoons in there, but found the holes and blocked them. I don't worry about the hens, and we shut their door every night (although we once did have a Great Horned Owl fly in through the chicken pop door when we were out until 10pm one night!

We just had to find a better place for pullets. The chicken hut worked for us this spring, so far so good.

We're back to 60 chickens as we speak. Know anyone near Columbus, Ohio who wants to buy some eggs?

 

[Going Bhonkers]

Sadly - I didn't fine ONE alive. I live in the mountains of Los Angeles just across the street from a state park. It is against the law to harm the coyotes. They run in packs here, and I see them on the streets even in the daytime. I have a double fence, with the outside being a solar netting and it has always stopped them in the past. I haven't had a problem for two years. They are the culprits for sure as my neighbors said they heard them howling that night. The area was covered in hundreds of paw prints. No one stole them - I would even RATHER that - knowing that they at least didn't come to a horrible death. It's so sad, because I have raised them from chicks and have a steady group of neighbors that I supply with their eggs. It was so hard to tell them what had happened. I was in shock for the last few days. I'm going to call Priemier One tomorrow and maybe they can suggest another fencing system - possibly a hard wired electric fence. At this time, I can't afford to replace the hens with even chicks if I could find them. Getting a flock of French Marans was a costly and timely project and it will take me another year at least to get even close to what I had. I thank you for the support, as most people don't understand the attachment I have to my animals. I was so frustrated, I didn't know if I was going to start up again, but I guess I'll wait until spring and see about getting some chicks and some pullets. I heard last night on the Jimmy Kimmel show that a Celebrity just lost their flock this week. It's a case of "man against nature" once again - but sadly - it's our domesticated pets that suffer!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I didnt read through this entire thread yet- read this and just had to give you a virtual hug - but are you in the position of being able to get a dog? They can at least alert you or perhaps provide a deterrent.

 

[Gallus Sapien]

Again sorry for your loss, but please don't give up